Apparatus for simultaneously preshrinking a plurality of fabrics



' Ju y 20, 5 N. WEHRMANN 3,195,211

APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PRE-SHRINKING A PLURALITY OF FABRICS Filed April 10, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 i i a. 5 Z// i 42 4 49 I I" L l'" 9 0 INVENTOR. Mam .4: fl/whmm/ v ATTORNE 5.

July 20, 1965 N. WEHRMANN APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PRE-SHRINKING A PLURALITY 0F FABRICS Filed April 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY M M 44/ AT'IQNE 5.

United States Patent 3,195,211 APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PRE- SHRINKING A PLURALHTY 0F FABRICS Nicholas Wehrmann, North Wilkesboro, N.C., assignor to L & L Manufacturing, Inc. a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 10, 1%3, Ser. No. 272,079 3 Claims. (Cl. 26-18.6)

This invention relates to apparatus for pre-shrinking fabrics, .and, more particularly, for pro-shrinking or otherwise treating tubular fabrics. 1

In my Patent 3,097,223, dated November 7, 1961, I have shown a type of apparatus wherein a tubular fabric is pre-shrunk by an operation which involves pressing the fabric by a form against the outer surfaces of the converging surfaces of the rearward .turns of a pair of endless belts of substantial thickness. I have now found that the productivity of such machine-s can be increased by the provision of a plurality of such forms disposed in spaced edge-to-edge relationship. By means of the present invention, for example, the same pair of belts which are used to pre-shrink a single tubular knitted fabric of relatively large width can be employed to simultaneously pro-shrink two or more tubular fabrics of suitable fractions of such width; and, by employing relatively wide belts two or more tubular fabrics of fairly large width may be pre-shrunk.

Such forms may each be suitably milled from aluminum or suitably formed from other metal, or other material such as solidified plastic, and may be composed of a single integral member or of sectional units such as described and claimed in my co-pendin-g application Serial No. 66,816, filed November 2, 1960. Preferably, however, the forms are composed of a plurality of interchangeable sectional units v-arious ones of which may be of different widths than various of the others thereof-- as herein exemplified.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter'set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, .in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of one form of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged-scale fragmental side view with the fabric shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 on a larger scale and partly broken away;

FIG. 4 is a sect-ion on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale and partly broken away;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a section of the form;

'FIG 6 is a plan view of a plurality of form sections ready to be joined to provide a form;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the sections of FIG. 6 when joined to provide a form;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8--8 of FIG. 7 on an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 9 is a similar view on the line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

The exemplified device comprises a pair of endles s rubber belts 5 and 6 five-eighths of an inch thick and forty-eight inches wide and running over a pair of rollers 7 and 8, respectively, to provide converging rear-ward turns 9 and 10 from which straight-run portions 11 and 12 extend forwardly in close proximity, as exemplified in said Patent 3,007,223, to which reference may be had for details not disclosed herein. In the present instance, the belts run to the rollers 7 and 8 (which are one-half 3,195,21 l Patented July 20, 1965 ice inch in diameter) from guide rollers 17 and 18. The belts run over forward rollers (not shown). A desired pair of rollers are driven by suitable means (not shown).

Pursuant ot the invention in certain of its aspects a plurality of forms are provided to serve as guides for a similar number of fabrics and to individually press the sides of these fabrics against the rearward turns of the belts 5 and 6. In the present instance there are provided three forms 20, 21 and 22, the form 21 being Wider than the form 20 and narrower than the form 22, so as to snugly accommodate tubular fabrics of different lateral extents, but it will be understood that each of any plurality of forms used may be of the same width as the others so that a plurality of fabrics of the same lateral extent may be run thru the machine at one time.

In the present instance each of the forms 20, 21 and 22 is relatively thick at 27, becomes thinner, in curves generally corresponding to the curves of the belts as they go over rollers 7 and 8, from lines 31 and 32 wherein they first press against the surfaces of the belts to lines substantially in the plane extending thru the axes of the rollers 7 and 8, and then extends forward as a thin strip 34 part way between the straight-run portions 11 and 12 of the belts; and the portion 31 widens forwardly conformably with the decreasing thickness thereof so that the peripheral extent thereof is at all points substantially the same as the peripheral extent of the portion 27, and the peripheral extent of the strip 34 is similarly substantially the same as that of the forward end, of the portion 27.

In order to prevent lateral shifting of the forms and to maintain the same in spaced relationship, there is provided at each edge of the portion 27 of each form a roller 49 between which and the edge of the form an edge of the fabric passes freely. Each exterior roller is rota-t-ably mounted on a bracket 41 carried by a post 42. Each pair of interior rollers 40 are mounted in spaced relationship laterally of the belts by one of a pair of brackets 43 and 44 both mounted on a post 45, Each of the posts 4-2 and 45 is removably secured on one of a plurality of plates 4-8 by a set screw 49. 'Each plate is slidably mounted on a .track running laterally of the machine, and each set screw 49 is arranged to engage the track to hold the plate and post in an adjusted position. In this manner various plura'lit-ies of forms, which may be of various widths can readily be held in position and in spaced edge-to-edge relationship, and both the number and the width of the forms utilized may be readily varied to suit the requirements of a particular case.

Rollers 52 similar to the rollers 52 of said patent and similarly mounted are provided to hold the straight-run portions of the belts against the fabrics.

Pursuant to the invention in certain of its aspects each form is composed of a plurality of sections extending in the direction of travel of the fabric thereover and having mating lateral-extension means and lateral hole means for holding said sections together. Each such form comprises a side section 55 having a generally cylindrical lateral extension 56 and a side section 57 formed with a generally cylindrical hole 56 adapted to receive an extension such as 56, but larger in diameter than the extension so as to allow slight relative shifting movements of the sections relative to each other in both a direction longitudinal of the belts and of the fabric movement and in a direction transverse thereof in the present instance. As exemplified, the section 55 is also provided with a pin 59 which mates with a bore 60, the diameter of which is as much larger than that of the pin as the diameter of the hole 58 is larger than that of the extension 56. In the present instance the play between the mating members is one sixteenth of an inch. For small tubular fabrics the form may consist only of the side sections, but ordinarily J there is provided also one or more intermediate sections each of which are formed with extensions 56and pins.

59 on one side and with holes 58 and bores 61 on the other side. As exemplified in connection with the form.

similarly carrying extensions 56 and pins 59 at one side,

thereof and formed with holes 58 and bores 60 extending inwardly from the other side thereof.

In order to hold the sections properly in place, each extension 56 is formed with an annular groove 64 and there is threaded into each section which is formed with z a hole 58' one of more screws 65, which when seated on the section extend into the annular groove 64 on an adjacent section sufi'iciently to prevent lateral movement of the sections but terminate short .of the base of the groove sufficiently to permit the same play between the end 'of the screws and the base of the groove as permitted between the outer surfaces of the extension on each side of the grooves and the innersurfaces of the hole.

Certain subject matter disclosed herein is claimed in my copending application Serial .No. 402,771 which is a division of the present application.

Since certain changes may be made in the above constructions and diiierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

I claim: 7

1. Apparatus for pre-shrinking tubular fabric, comprising a pair of endless belts which, have juxtaposed forwardly-moving straight-run portions andrearward turns and which are of substantial thicknessand the outer surfaces of the turns of which move at a higher speed than the straight run portions thereof, and'a plurality of forms disposed at a plurality of positionsxalong the width of the belts and each adapted to guide a tubular fabric andtopress the fabric against the faster moving outer belt surface portions, the total maximum lateral extent of said forms being less than the minimum lateral extent of said belts, whereby a plurality of fabrics may be longitudinally contracted simultaneously, each-of said forms being composed of a plurality of sections extending in a direction longitudinal of said belts and being provided with means to hold said sections together while permitting slight relative movement thereof in a direction transverse of said belts.

2. Apparatus for pre-shrinking tubular fabric, comprising a pair of endless belts which'have juxtaposed forwardly-moving straight-run portions and rearward turns and which are of substantial thickness and the outer surfaces of the turns of which move at a higher speed than the straight run portions thereof, a plurality of forms disposed ata plurality of positions along the width of the belts and each adapted to guide a tubular fabric and to press the fabric against the faster moving outer belt surface portions, the total maximum lateral extentof said forms being less than the minimum lateral extent of said belts, whereby a plurality of fabrics may be longitudinally contracted simultaneously, each of said forms being composed of a multiplicity of sections extending in a direction longitudinal of the belts,uat least one of said forms being composed of a larger number of sections than another of said forms.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein there are provided means to hold said sections together while permitting slightifree relative movement thereof in a direction longitudinally. of said belts, and wherein said holding means is arranged to permit slight free relative movement of said sections in a direction widthwise of said belts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 995,522 6/11 Chatfield 26-55 1,113,905 10/14 Pease 26-55 1,215,419 2/17 Shields 26--55 1,640,491 8/27. Dykes 26-55 2,503,524 1 4/50 'Stubblebine 26-55 2,522,663. 9/50 Chatfield 2618.6 2,826,167 3/58 Cohn et al. I 3,007,223 11/61 Wehrmann 2618.6

' FOREIGN PATENTS 279,190 10/14 Germany. 862,301 3/61 Great Britain.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR PRE-SHRINKING TUBULAR FABRIC, COMPRISING A PAIR OF ENDLESS BELTS WHICH HAVE JUXTAPOSED FORWARDLY-MOVING STRAIGHT-RUN PORTIONS AND REARWARD TURNS AND WHICH ARE OF SUBSTANTIALLY THICKNESS AND THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE TURNS OF WHICH MOVE AT A HIGHER SPEED THAN THE STRAIGHT RUN PORTIONS THEREOF, AND A PLURALITY OF FORMS DISPOSED AT A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS ALONG THE WIDTH OF THE BELTS AND EACH ADAPTED TO GUIDE A TUBULAR FABRIC AND TO PRESS THE FABRIC AGAINST THE FASTER MOVING OUTER BELT SURFACE PORTIONS, THE TOTAL MAXIMUM LATERAL EXTENT OF SAID FORMS BEING LESS THAN THE MINIMUM LATERAL EXTENT OF SAID BELTS, WHEREBY A PLURALITY OF FABRICS MAY BE LONGITUDINALLY CONTRACTED SIMULTANEOUSLY, EACH OF SAID FORMS BEING COMPOSED OF A PLURALITY OF SECTIONS EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION LONGITUDINAL OF SAID BELTS AND BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS TO HOLD SAID SECTIONS TOGETHER WHILE PERMITTING SLIGHT RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREOF IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE OF SAID BELTS. 